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Thank you to PRWeb and the CDC for this article. Please share your thoughts below…..

More than 2,200 people die from alcohol poisoning each year in the United States – an average of six deaths each day – according to a new Vital Signs report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Three in four alcohol poisoning deaths involve adults ages 35-64 years, and most deaths occur among men and non-Hispanic whites. American Indians/Alaska Natives have the most alcohol poisoning deaths per million people.

Alcohol poisoning deaths are caused by drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time. This can result in very high levels of alcohol in the body, which can shutdown critical areas of the brain that control breathing, heart rate, and body temperature – resulting in death.

More than 38 million U.S. adults report binge drinking an average of four times per month and consume an average of eight drinks per binge. Binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men on an occasion. The more you drink, the greater your risk of death.

“Alcohol poisoning deaths are a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers of excessive alcohol use, which is a leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S.” said CDC Principal Deputy Director Ileana Arias, Ph.D. “We need to implement effective programs and policies to prevent binge drinking and the many health and social harms that are related to it, including deaths from alcohol poisoning.”

Alcohol poisoning death rates varied widely across states, from 46.5 deaths per million residents in Alaska to 5.3 per million residents in Alabama. The states with the highest death rates were in the Great Plains, western United States, and New England.

CDC scientists analyzed deaths from alcohol poisoning among people aged 15 years and older, using multiple cause-of-death data from the National Vital Statistics System for 2010-2012.

Alcohol dependence (alcoholism) was identified as a contributing factor in 30 percent of these deaths, and other drugs were noted to have been a factor in about 3 percent of the deaths. While this study reveals that alcohol poisoning deaths are a bigger problem than previously thought, it is still likely to be an underestimate.

“This study shows that alcohol poisoning deaths are not just a problem among young people,” said CDC Alcohol Program Lead and report coauthor Robert Brewer, M.D., M.S.P.H. “It also emphasizes the importance of taking a comprehensive approach to reducing binge drinking that includes evidence-based community strategies, screening and counseling in healthcare settings, and high-quality substance abuse treatment for those who need it.”

What is your opinion of this article supplied by PRWeb, from the Harvard Men’s Health Watch? Please supply your opinions below…..

Many studies link light to moderate drinking (up to two standard alcoholic drinks per day for a man) to better health, but the science remains uncertain. Older men might consider limiting themselves to one drink per day.

A decent body of research has made the phrases “consume alcohol in moderation” and “good for the heart” go together like gin and tonic. But moderate drinking may not be good for everyone, so a personalized approach is best, reports the November 2014 Harvard Men’s Health Watch.

“For some people, depending on what medications you are taking and other factors, even light drinking might not be a good thing,” says Dr. Kenneth Mukamal, associate professor of medicine at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. “For other people, moderate drinking could plausibly be beneficial.” “Moderate” when applied to alcohol means no more than two drinks a day for men and no more than one a day for women.

Healthy drinking?

Many studies have found a statistical link between light to moderate drinking and better health. Moderate drinkers appear to suffer fewer heart attacks and strokes, less diabetes, and stronger bones in older age, compared with people who drink lightly or not at all. In addition, some research finds that people who consume between two and six standard drinks per week—an average of less than one drink per day—are less likely to have cardiovascular disease.

But these findings don’t necessarily mean that alcohol itself is responsible for the healthy pattern. Perhaps moderate drinkers also eat healthier foods, exercise more, and control stress better.

Or, it might be that people who don’t drink are generally in poorer health, so they don’t drink alcohol because it interacts badly with their medications. That would tend to make moderate drinkers look healthier in comparison.

Drinking too much spells trouble. In men, the health effects show up as increased heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers—although part of this may be due to the fact that heavy drinkers may also use tobacco.

A personalized medicine approach starts with a conversation with a trusted doctor about whether moderate drinking is safe and prudent for you. “That’s a question well worth asking your physician,” says Dr. Mukamal.

Also in the November 2014 Harvard Men’s Health Watch:

* Sleep apnea solutions

* Preventive health screening tests you don’t need

* Group health activities: What’s in it for you?

* How to get help for hand pain

The Harvard Men’s Health Watch is available from Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division of Harvard Medical School, for $20 per year. Subscribe at http://www.health.harvard.edu/mens or by calling 877-649-9457 (toll-free).

When it comes to teens, one thing is true: social pressure is powerful. We see how peers, the entertainment culture, and strategic marketing influence teens’ decisions on a myriad of subjects, including their decision to drink.

Studies have shown that teens are more likely to drink the more they are exposed to alcohol use in movies and advertisements.

The good news is that parents also have influence on their teens. By example and through discussion, parents can establish a foundation of healthy attitudes and behavior related to alcohol. Below are real-life strategies for parents to use when modeling positive alcohol consumption and discussing alcohol with their teens.

Alcohol & Teens – What parents can do

• Set a good example: Do not drink to cope with problems. Do not invite your teen to drink with you or joke about drunkenness. Be the first to demonstrate to your teens that you don’t need alcohol to have fun.

• Talk about “cause and effect”: There are serious dangers and repercussions associated with drinking. Take a firm stand with your teen about alcohol. “Until you are of legal drinking age, our stance on alcohol is simple – do not drink.” Help them understand the risks to their health, safety and dreams for the future if they drink. A single episode of irresponsible drinking can change the trajectory of their life forever, or worse, it could take their life.

• Discuss marketing efforts: With alcohol companies spending millions of dollars in promotions, it is hard to escape the messages encouraging teens to drink. Teens should be familiar with the methods companies use to try and influence consumer behavior. Discuss with your teen the marketing strategies alcohol companies employ to sell their product.

• Monitor your teen’s screen time: Aggressive campaigns marketing alcohol are on television, the internet, movies – you name it. Sports-related television programming and websites are particularly saturated with alcohol marketing. Be mindful of how much time your teen is spending in front of a screen and what they are viewing. Avoid programming that glamorizes alcohol and other drugs. Keep overall screen time to one to two hours per day.

• Consider cancelling magazine subscriptions: There are more beer and hard liquor ads in teen magazines than adults’ magazines. Consider cancelling subscriptions to magazines that run alcohol ads.

• Advocate: Write letters to advertisers who run inappropriate ads. Write to Congress asking for greater restrictions on alcohol advertising, such as restricting the use of cartoons or attractive women in alcohol promotions.

• Prepare your teen by role-playing: Give your teen the tools they need to get out of sticky situations where alcohol is a factor. Practice how they would avoid the temptation to drink, what they would say and how they could leave the situation.

• Set clear “safe party” rules: It isn’t practical to think that your teen won’t ever encounter alcohol. Even if your teen chooses to abstain from alcohol, they still need to be smart about their surroundings and follow “safe party” rules to make sure their beverage isn’t tampered with or spiked.

– – Never leave your beverage cup unattended.

– – Don’t accept an open container drink from anyone who is not a close friend.

– – Be aware of the taste, texture and appearance of your drink.

– – Use the buddy system. If you suspect your friend has ingested alcohol or another controlled substance, get them out of the situation and ask that they do the same for you.

– – Call anytime. You are loved and cherished. You are wanted home safe, regardless of what you have consumed. Call your parents or the parents of a friend to pick you up and remove you from a dangerous situation.

With solid information and the love and guidance of parents, teens can be well-equipped to handle the pressures that come with adolescence and young adulthood. But, in order for a teen to be prepared, parents first need to be prepared with information to assist in the navigation.

– Eugene Shatz is a pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine at Spectrum Health’s Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Dr. Shatz and his staff provide comprehensive health services for adolescents. Adolescents – children over 12 years of age – are seen for routine medical problems, annual check-ups, sports physicals and/or counseling for such conditions as late-onset puberty, sexually transmitted diseases, birth control, and psychological issues.

Dr. Shatz is board certified in pediatrics and adolescent medicine. He is a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the Society of Adolescent Medicine.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of nine hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a state of the art children’s hospital that opened in January 2011, and 140 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group and West Michigan Heart, physician groups totaling more than 700 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with 600,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with 19,000 employees. The organization provided $204 million in community benefit during its 2012 fiscal year.

From Your Health Journal…..”A interesting article from a local CBS affiliate written by Ryan Jaslow called Experts: Energy drinks, alcohol and teens shouldn’t mix. Over the years, we have read many stories about energy drinks, caffeine, and alcohol usage for children or teens. A recent article suggests that energy drinks can cause insomnia, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, anxiety and obesity among other issues which can be exasperated by alcohol. There are many adults and teens who consume energy drinks wisely, with no problems, but the problem for many, is when it is combined with alcohol. Alcohol misuse by teens is nothing new, but trying to find a solution to this is the challenge. The study also stated that drinking just one caffeinated beverage mixed with alcohol can be the same as drinking a bottle of wine and several cups of coffee, according to the study. So, what can be done. The one thing is to educate teens about the dangers of mixing caffeine and alcohol. Please visit the CBS web site (link provided below) to read the complete article.”

From the article…..

The caffeinated contents of energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster can be dangerous for teens, especially when combined with alcohol, new research confirms.

A report, published on Feb. 1 on Pediatrics in Review, reiterated that energy drinks can cause insomnia, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, anxiety and obesity among other issues which can be exasperated by alcohol.

Other side effects include concerning behaviors, which can include drunk driving and risky sexual behavior.

“I don’t think there is any sensationalism going on here. These drinks can be dangerous for teens,” review lead author Dr. Kwabena Blankson, a U.S. Air Force major and an adolescent medicine specialist at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Va., told HealthDay. “They contain too much caffeine and other additives that we don’t know enough about. Healthy eating, exercise and adequate sleep are better ways to get energy.”

Making things worse, study authors said, that energy drink makers constantly market to young people, leading them to think it’s okay to mix their drinks. These adolescents and young adults aren’t always aware that mixing alcohol and energy drinks can make them feel less drunk than they really are, they said.

Drinking just one caffeinated beverage mixed with alcohol can be the same as drinking a bottle of wine and several cups of coffee, according to the study. Sixteen-ounce energy drinks have about 160 mg of caffeine, compared to one average cup of coffee which only contains 100 mg. More than 100 mg a day of caffeine is unhealthy for teens, Blankson told HealthDay. Other additives like sugar, ginseng and guarana boost the caffeinated effects in the energy drinks.